Current Assets are assets that can be converted to cash, used or sold within one year in the normal course of business. These assets are classified on a balance sheet and help demonstrate a company’s ability to pay its short-term obligations and assess its short-term liquidity.

The three main categories of current assets are cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and inventory. Cash and cash equivalents are any assets that can be converted to cash in a short period of time, such as money and coins, bank accounts, short-term investments and treasury bills. Accounts receivable consists of funds that are due to a company from the sale of goods and services. This includes short-term loans, customer deposits and other amounts owed by customers. Inventory includes raw materials, parts and finished products that are available for sale.

Additionally, other current assets, such as marketable securities, prepaid expenses, and the value of services to be rendered in the near future, can also be listed. Marketable securities are investments that are highly liquid, such as publicly traded stocks, bonds, mutual funds and commercial paper. Prepaid expenses are payments made in advance for certain goods and services and are listed as current assets until they are used. Lastly, the fair value of services that will be performed in the near future is listed as an asset until the services are provided.

Having adequate current assets is a crucial part of financial health and it is essential for companies to know how much and which type of assets they have, in order to make sure that they have the funds to pay their liabilities. A good ratio of current assets to current liabilities is 1:1, however this can vary depending on the industry, and companies should always ensure they have enough current assets to meet their current liabilities.

The current assets account is an important measure of a company’s financial stability and liquidity, as it is indicative of their ability to pay off their short-term liabilities with cash in a timely manner. An analysis of current assets should be undertaken regularly to ensure that a company has enough liquidity and that their assets are sufficient to pay their liabilities.